The Life of Characters in Uncle Kou's Works

In the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo (980), 19-year-old Kou Shukao was a scholar. When Song Taizong selected Jinshi, he often went to the podium in front of the temple to ask questions in person, and young people were often not employed. Uncle Kou was taught to age. Uncle Kou said, "I am preparing to embark on a career. How can I lie to your majesty? " Later, he passed the exam, was awarded the post of judge in Dali, and was sent to Badong, Guizhou as a magistrate. When he was full, he was appointed as a magistrate in Cheng 'an. Later, he was promoted to be a judge of salt and iron, a doctor in the dangerous department of Shangshu, and a straight bachelor of the Council.

In the second year of Duangong (989), Uncle Kou once played the hall of events and boldly remonstrated. Because advice is the most unpleasant, Song Taizong won't listen. He left the dragon angrily and turned back to the palace. KouShu grabbed Song Taizong's skirt and advised him to sit down again and listen to him. Afterwards, Song Taizong admired Uncle Kou very much and said happily, "I got Uncle Kou, just like Emperor Taizong got Wei Zhi."

Uncle Kou is famous for his integrity and wisdom among courtiers in Song Taizong. In the early years of Chunhua, the court in the Northern Song Dynasty handled two bribery cases. Wang Huai, whose circumstances were serious, was only dismissed for stealing tens of millions of yuan, and soon resumed his original post; However, Zuji was sentenced to death. Uncle Kou knew that this was the ghost of Wang Huai's younger brother Wang Zhen. He was involved in politics and his heart was very angry.

In the second year of Chunhua (99 1), there was a drought in the spring, and Song Taizong called ministers to ask about the current political gains and losses. Most ministers think that it is caused by the number of days, while Uncle Kou said: "In Hong Fan, it is said that the relationship between man and nature goes hand in hand and the drought is caused by unfair punishment." Song Taizong was very angry and got up and went back to the palace. After a while, I called Uncle Kou and asked about the unfair punishment. Uncle Kou said, "I hope to call the officials of the two houses, so I said." The emperor's father ordered the officials of the two houses to be summoned. Uncle Kou said, "Not long ago, Zuji and Wang Huai both committed crimes and took bribes. My ancestral home was beheaded for taking less bribes. Because Wang Huai is the younger brother of Wang Zhen who participated in politics, he received tens of millions of dollars and was only punished with a stick, but he was reinstated. Isn't this unfair? " Song Taizong asked Wang Zhen about it, and Wang Zhen kowtowed and apologized, so Song Taizong severely criticized Wang Zhen and knew that Kouzhen was available. Immediately, Kou Shu was appointed as the doctor of Zuo Jian, the deputy envoy of Shu Mi, and was appointed as a member of Tongzhi Academy, and began to directly participate in the military affairs of the Northern Song Dynasty court.

Uncle Kou had a serious disagreement with Zhang Xun in the Privy Council. One day, when Uncle Kou and Wen Zhongshu went out together, they met a madman on the road, greeted his horse and shouted long live. Mr. Wang and Zhang Xun have always been friendly, and Zhang Xun instructed him to tell Song Taizong about it. Uncle Kou quoted a Chinese book as a witness, and Zhang Xun invited Wang Bin to perform solo. He was sharp-tongued and accused the other side of his shortcomings. Song Taizong was very angry, and Zhang Xun was demoted, and KouShu was also relieved of his position as Qingzhou magistrate.

But at this point, Song Taizong has been inseparable from KouShu. After KouShu went to Qingzhou, Song Taizong was unhappy and often inquired about KouShu's situation in Qingzhou. In the second year, Uncle Kou was recalled to Beijing and worshipped as a politician. In the first year of Daoism (995), this activity was added. At that time, Song Taizong was in power for a long time without a crown prince. This matter has been a headache for Song Taizong. Because after Song Taizu's death, his son Dezhao failed to succeed to the throne, and Song Taizong practiced for his brother, Song Taizu's death has the mystery of "the sound of candles and axes", which means that Song Taizong is suspected of killing his brother to seize the throne. Therefore, when Song Taizong was transferred to the throne, he was faced with two choices: to have his own son or to have Taizu's son. At that time, the generals and ministers kept the establishment of the reserve secret. Minister Zheng Feng once asked for a crown prince and was exiled to Lingnan by Emperor Taizong. Since then, few people in the government and the public dare to talk about it again.

Kou Shu has just returned from Qingzhou to visit Song Taizong. Song Taizong was suffering from foot disease at that time. After seeing the injury, Uncle Kou asked affectionately, "Why are you back in Beijing now?" Song Taizong felt a little guilty. Then Song Taizong asked KouShu who should be the Crown Prince. KouShu has guessed the purpose of Song Taizong summoned him this time, and he knows it, but he didn't directly answer Song Taizong's question.

Uncle Kou said: "To choose a monarch for the world, we can't discuss with empresses and middle officials (eunuchs), nor can we plan with recent officials;" You should choose someone who is expected to be a prince. " Song Taizong bowed his head and thought for a long time, then turned his back on the people around him and asked softly, "What about Wang Xiang? Uncle Kou exulted and said, "Knowing a son is better than knowing a father. Since your Majesty thinks Wang Xiang can, please decide. The next day, it was called Kaifeng Yin, renamed Shouwang and made a prince.

When Song Taizong and the prince came back to visit the ancestral temple, people in Beijing crowded on both sides of the road, beaming, vying to see the Crown Prince. At this time, someone in the crowd shouted "Young Emperor". Song Taizong was very unhappy after hearing this and asked Uncle Kou, "Where will people put me when I return to the Prince?" Uncle Kou thanked him again and again and said, "The crown prince chosen by your majesty won the hearts of the people and was a blessing to the country." Song Taizong suddenly enlighted, rewarded KouShu with a glass of wine and got drunk. Since then, Song Taizong has become more loyal. Someone gave Song Taizong a treasure: Tong Tianxi and Song Taizong were made into two rhinoceros belts, one for their own use and the other for Uncle Kou. In the third year of Daoguang (997), Song Taizong died, and Prince Zhao Heng succeeded to the throne, that is, Song Zhenzong. Uncle Kou was appointed assistant minister of the Ministry of Industry. Song Zhenzong wanted Kou Xun to be prime minister a long time ago, but he was (just) worried that his straightforward personality would make it difficult for him to be independent.

Liao took advantage of the establishment of a new country in Song Dynasty to harass the border more frequently.

In the second year of Xianping (999), the Liao army defeated Song Jun in Gaoyangguan, and the Kangbao people were deployed by the Song Dynasty and returned from captivity.

In the sixth year of Xianping (1003), the Liao army invaded Gaoyangguan again, Song Jun deployed Wang Jizhong and was captured and sent to Liao. These two wars greatly shocked the Northern Song Dynasty imperial court. In the first year of Jingdezhen, urgent documents on the border were frequently circulated, saying that the Liao army was going to invade on a large scale again. In June of this year, the counselor Bi recommended Koushu. Bi said: "Kou Xiancai is loyal and can break major events; I am determined to be a martyr and hate evil. At present, the north is invading, and only Kou can defend the country against the enemy. "In August, KouShu and finish on the same day to visit each other.

In the first year of Jingdezhen (1004), Kou Shu ranked below Bi (participating in politics) with the rank of a university student in Jixian Hall.

In September, Emperor Yelulongxu of Liao and his mother Xiao Taihou led 200,000 troops to set off from Youzhou, heading south in a mighty way. The Liao army was attacked by the army and blocked by Song Bing, so it turned to the southeast. When the Liao army went south. At the time of "the urgent book arrives at five o'clock in the evening", most of the elites of the ruling group in the Northern Song Dynasty were frightened. If Qin Wang, a political adviser, is from Jiangnan, he advocates moving the capital to Jinling. Chen Yaocuo, a Tang Dynasty envoy from Sichuan, proposed to move the capital to Chengdu. They advocated avoiding Liao country in order to deal with its invasion. Song Zhenzong had no intention of resisting the enemy, and he was even more afraid. Only Uncle Kou and Bi insisted on resisting. When Song Zhenzong asked their opinions, Wang Qinruo and Chen Yaocuo were present. Uncle Kou knew in his heart that it was they who suggested moving the capital, but he pretended not to know and said to Song Zhenzong, "Who planned this plan for your majesty? His crime can be beheaded. Now your majesty is a mighty emperor, and the military commanders and civil servants are one. If you lead the troops yourself, the enemy will naturally run away. If you don't do this, the raiders will disrupt the enemy's plans, hold their ground, kill the enemy's morale, and make the enemy sleepy and exhausted. Judging from the fatigue and relaxation of the situation, we are sure to win. Why do you want to abandon ancestral temples and ancestral societies and go to remote places like Chu and Shu? The question is, if people's hearts collapse and the enemy takes advantage of it, can the world still be saved? "

Uncle Kou's opinion finally prevented the compromise faction from escaping from the enemy. In order to eliminate the influence of Wang Qinruo, KouShu transferred him from the front line of Tianxiong Army to guard against Liao soldiers.

Uncle Kou sent spies to the front to investigate the situation, and based on the analysis of the enemy's situation, he formulated a set of overall plans to resist the enemy. He pointed out: "At present, the enemy has reached the east of Shenzhou and qi zhou, and our army has no garrison in Dingzhou, Lu Wei and East Road. At the same time, ten thousand troops of Tian Xiong were mobilized to station troops, and Sun was sent to take command and cover the enemy. On the other hand, we recruited militia, went deep behind enemy lines, attacked enemy strongholds and reported the enemy's situation. This can boost the morale of the army, calm people's hearts, disrupt the enemy's military deployment, and form a corner with military strongholds in Zhou Kun and Numazhou, so as to attack and defend. In case the enemy rides south to attack Zhou Bei, he should reinforce Dingzhou, attack the northeast and contain the enemy's rear, so that the enemy soldiers will not dare to fight in depth. " At the same time, KouShu stressed that in order to boost morale and strive for greater victory, Song Zhenzong must cross the Yellow River and go to the front in person.

On the one hand, Uncle Kou struggled with the Compromisers, on the other hand, he actively prepared for the war. He sent people to Hebei to organize outstanding young farmers, train them and develop the militia team, and stipulated that Hebei militia should give support to the local government when killing the enemy; Those who have made meritorious deeds in killing the enemy in the militia should also be rewarded. Uncle Kou also sent people to bring money and goods to comfort the defenders in Hebei, and transferred them to Hebei to make 302,000 yuan to buy rations and enrich military assets.

In October, Liao soldiers captured qi zhou, pushed southeast, crossed Zhou Bei and entered the city gate. In this way, not only the vast territory of Hebei fell into enemy hands, but also Bianjing, the capital city separated by a river, was exposed to the threat of Liao cavalry. The facts are in front of us, and only resolutely resisting the enemy is the only way out. Timid Song Zhenzong, urged by KouShu, finally decided to personally expedition. However, many people in the ruling clique still have no confidence in resisting the enemy. Even the prime minister at that time, Bi, refused to follow the Northern Expedition on the pretext of illness and the appearance of Taibai Star during the day, and made irresponsible remarks on Kou Shuli's advice to personally expedition.

Urged by KouShu, Song Zhenzong asked YongWang to stay in Beijing and set off for the north. When the car drove slowly to Weicheng, the news that Liao army was approaching came from the front like snowflakes. Some officials advised Zhenzong to go to Jinling to avoid the enemy, but Zhenzong wavered again. Uncle Kou knows how to grasp the military principles of "winning by force" and "winning by force". He reminded Zhenzong that when the enemy was outnumbered and the Quartet was in crisis, he could only push his luck and not back down. Three books clearly point out that if you advance, your morale will increase greatly, and if you retreat, everyone will collapse. Gao Qiong also supports KouShu's opinion. Song Zhenzong drove northbound and finally arrived in Aizhou. During the Northern Song Dynasty, the Yellow River still flowed through the city, dividing it into two parts.

Liao army has arrived near the North City, and Song Zhenzong is afraid to cross the river, only willing to be stationed in the South City. Uncle Kou urged him to cross the river, but Zhenzong hesitated. Uncle Kou said to Gao Qiong, "Qiu owes a lot. Are you going to repay him today? " Gao Qiong said: "I am a soldier and I am willing to die for my country." So KouShu discussed with Gao Qiong and went to see Song Zhenzong together. Uncle Kou said to Song Zhenzong, "If your Majesty thinks what I just said is not credible, you can ask Gao Qiong." Before Zhenzong could speak, Gao Qiong said, "What Kou Xian said is not unreasonable. The parents and wives of the soldiers in the army are all in the capital, and they will not be willing to abandon their families and children and move to Jiangnan with you. " Then Gao Qiong asked Song Zhenzong to start crossing the river at once. Zheng Feng, a member of the Privy Council, rebuked Gao Qiong for his recklessness towards Song Zhenzong. Gao Qiong retorted angrily, "You, Zheng Feng, are ministers of two governments just because you can write articles. At present, enemy soldiers are challenging me. I advised the emperor to go out, but you blamed me for being rude. Why not write a poem to let the enemy retreat? " Gao Qiong ordered the guards to turn the new Zen carriage to the north city. When crossing the pontoon bridge, Gao Qiong simply drove the guards forward. As soon as the real Huanglong Banner appeared on the upstairs of the northern city Yizhou, the soldiers and civilians of the Northern Song Dynasty at the gate immediately cheered and made a huge noise. After a symbolic visit to Yizhou, the northern city, Zhenzong still returned to the palace in the southern city, leaving Uncle Kou of the northern city in charge of directing the operation. Song Zhenzong sent someone to visit KouShu several times. Uncle Kou and Yang Yi, the counselor, were drinking and playing chess on the rostrum, which was very calm. KouShu have answers, let Song Zhenzong no longer panic.

Since the massive invasion of Liao, the soldiers and civilians throughout the country have fought bravely against the enemy. Although the Liao army claimed to be 200,000, it fought alone, with long supply lines and no supplies. After October, the Liao army lost on the battlefield. Especially when Zhenzong visited Beicheng, Xiao Talan, a pioneer of Liao Army, was shot to death by Li Jilong, a general of Song Dynasty, with an elite crossbow, which greatly shook the morale of the Khitan people. Therefore, Xiao Chuo, the Empress Dowager of Liao State, and Lu Ye Long Yun, the Prime Minister, estimated that they could not get any cheap money on the battlefield, so they turned to the Northern Song Dynasty for peace in an attempt to obtain benefits that could not be obtained on the battlefield from the negotiating table.

Song Zhenzong has no determination to resist the enemy. Almost at the same time when he left Beijing for personal expedition, Cao Liyong, the special envoy of the Song Dynasty, was also sent to the Qidan military camp. Cao Liyong was a junior official at that time. During the confrontation between Liao and Song Dynasties, Cao Liyong always shuttled between the two armies. The Emperor Sheng Zong of Liao also contacted him through Song He, who was captured in the battle the year before. The condition put forward by the Khitan was to "return" the "land of Guannan" captured by Zhou Shizong's Northern Expedition after the Song Dynasty. Song's condition was that as long as Liao withdrew, he could give Liao some silver and silk every year, but he did not agree to the territorial claim. The negotiations were held in the face of confrontation between the two armies. Finally, an agreement was reached according to the conditions of the Song Dynasty, and the remaining question was how much silver silk to give Liao every year. Cao Liyong asked Song Zhenzong before he left, and Zhenzong said, "If you have to, one million will do." As soon as Cao Liyong came out of Zhenzong Palace, he was stopped by KouShu waiting outside the door. Kouxian advised him: "Although there is an imperial decree, you can't promise more than 300,000 pieces of silver if you have to negotiate. Otherwise, you don't have to come to me again, and I'll cut your head off! "

Uncle Kou has always opposed peace talks and advocated taking advantage of the situation to send troops to recover lost ground. Ning Jun, the main battle general, deployed Yang Zhi to capture several states in Youzhou. However, because the true Sect is committed to peace, the compromise faction is arrogant. They attacked Uncle Kou's self-esteem and even said he was up to no good. Uncle Kou was slandered by these people and was forced to give up the idea of the main battle. So, under the planning of the Compromise School, in the same year1February, the Song and Liao sides concluded a peace treaty. This is the famous "Yuan Dynasty Alliance" in history. The alliance of the monastery is certainly commendable. In this war, Song Jun also gave the Liao army a powerful counterattack, which made the Liao rulers realize that Song Jun and the people of the Central Plains could not be underestimated. From then on, the Khitan dared not launch a large-scale invasion. After the alliance of the single source, the Song and Liao borders were peaceful, the trade was prosperous, and the people's lives were stable. From actively resisting the enemy to forming an alliance with the Buddhist temple, Kou Xian won the title of courtier, which is obvious to all. However, the hero has caused unexpected disasters. Kou Shu made great contributions to the Northern Song Dynasty, and Song Zhenzong had great respect for Kou Shu, which caused the jealousy of compromise bureaucrats.

Wang Qinruo, the leader of the compromise faction who was once denounced by KouShu as "a crime that can be beheaded", hated KouShu even more. As soon as he returned to the East Palace, Wang Qinruo began to plot against KouShu. After retiring from the DPRK once, he took the opportunity to say to Zhenzong, "Does your majesty respect Uncle Kou because he has rendered meritorious service to the country?" Song Zhenzong certainly nodded. Wang Qinruo said, "I didn't expect your majesty to have such a view. Your Majesty was not ashamed of the battle of Ge Yuan, but said that Kou Xian was meritorious. " Song Zhenzong one leng, asked him why. Wang Qinruo said, "The Spring and Autumn Annals-all the books regard the alliance at the gate as a shame. The alliance of monasteries is actually the alliance at the gates. Isn't your majesty ashamed? " Seeing Song Zhenzong unhappy, Wang Qinruo went on to say, "Your Majesty has heard of gambling. When gamblers are about to lose all their money, they put all their money on it, regardless of whether they win or lose. This is called "putting all your eggs in one basket". When your majesty was in Zhangzhou, it was just a "put all your eggs in one basket" by Kouxian. It was really dangerous at the time! " From then on, Song Zhenzong became cold to KouShu.

As a prime minister, Uncle Kou ignored his family background, chose talents and appointed talents, and liked to employ people who were born in poverty and had real talents and practical learning. Yushitai is an organization that specializes in criticizing the gains and losses of state affairs. Whenever there is a vacancy for an official of Yushitai, he will ask someone who is usually picky to pick it up. In this way, he became a thorn in the side of Wang Qinruo and others. Under the attack of Wang Qinruo and his gang, in February of the third year of Jingdezhen (1006), KouShu was removed from his post and went to Shanzhou to be a magistrate.

Uncle Kou left Tokyo and worked as a local official in Henan and Shaanxi for many years. Ding Wei and Wang Qinruo in Song Dynasty were both good at pandering. In order to win the favor and trust of Song Zhenzong, they engaged in superstitious activities, forged the so-called "heavenly book" and fabricated auspicious differences. Whitewash and confuse the audience. Song Zhenzong couldn't afford to get sick in his later years and became more superstitious and confused. He was almost obedient to Wang Qinruo and Ding Wei in the Song Dynasty.

Tianxi for three years (10 19), the situation has changed. In Song Dynasty, Ding Wei took the initiative to invite Kou Xun back to the DPRK to serve as prime minister again. Ding Wei's actions in the Song Dynasty had ulterior motives. At that time, Ding Wei Song Dynasty was really not qualified to be a prime minister in terms of qualifications and reputation, so he asked Koushu to return to the DPRK in the name of participating in politics and serve his power under the guise of Koushu's information. This is clear to outsiders. One of Kou Shu's proteges once earnestly told Kou Shu that it was the best policy not to go because of illness, and it was the worst policy to "re-enter the Chinese book" as the prime minister. However, the honest and frank Uncle Kou did not listen to dissuasion, and finally went to Beijing to take office in June.

There were two plots against Uncle Kou in the Song Dynasty. At first, he was bent on uncle Laco as an accomplice. At a banquet, KouShu's beard was stained with some vegetable soup, and Ding Wei immediately got up to wipe it for KouShu in Song Dynasty. Kou Xun was not only ungrateful, but very angry. He scolded Ding Wei on the spot as a minister of the Song Dynasty. Ding Wei in Song Dynasty became angry from embarrassment and vowed to get back at KouShu.

After suffering from rheumatism, Liu participated in the political affairs and asked questions about everything. Ding Weisong's mistake, Kou Shu, Wang Dan, Xiang Minzhong and other senior ministers all suggested that we should choose an aboveboard minister to help the prince supervise the country. Uncle Kou also pointed out: "Song Dynasty and Qian are adulterers and can't help the young master." In fact, it is against Liu's pre-governance, and it is against autocracy. Song Zhenzong, who was ill, also realized the grim situation of Ding Weisong's despotism, and affirmed the performance of Koushu and others. Uncle Kou asked Yang Yi, the magistrate, to secretly draft the imperial edict for the prince to supervise the country. He was going to assist the court with Yang Yi.

Empress Liu is a Sichuanese, and her family members hold high positions and break the law. For the sake of Queen Liu, Song Zhenzong issued a pardon. Uncle Kou firmly opposes it and thinks it must be handled according to national laws. For this matter, Queen Liu and Uncle Kou forged a feud. Unexpectedly, the conspiracy between KouShu and Yang Yi was leaked by Yang Yi's brother-in-law, zhangyan, who was drunk. Queen Liu first made a move, calling KouShu a prince's teacher, and making him the master. At this juncture, Zhou Huaizheng, an eunuch who had personal grievances with Ding Wei in the Song Dynasty, contacted his colleagues in an attempt to launch a coup, slay Ding Wei in the Song Dynasty, reunite with KouShu, respect Song Zhenzong as the emperor's father, and make the Crown Prince the throne. This matter was betrayed by guest ambassador Yang Chongxun. In the Song Dynasty, Ding Wei disguised himself overnight and went to Cao Liyong by ox cart to discuss countermeasures. In Song Dynasty, Ding Wei and Cao Liyong sent troops to surround Zhou Huaizheng's residence. Zhou Huaizheng committed suicide after being captured. In Song Dynasty, Ding Wei wanted to take the opportunity to kill Uncle Kou, so he falsely accused Uncle Kou of participating in this conspiracy. Although Uncle Kou was not asked to die, he went on strike again and was expelled from Beijing. Uncle Kou was demoted. It is said that Ding Wei and others in Song Dynasty did it behind Song Zhenzong's back. According to the Biography of Kou Shu in Song Dynasty, Kou Shu was demoted and Zhenzong was sick. He asked the people around him why he hadn't seen Uncle Kou for many days, and the officials around him didn't dare to answer the truth. On the day when Uncle Kou left Beijing, ministers were afraid to see him off because they were afraid of Ding Wei's Song Dynasty. Only Wang Shu regards "the righteousness of friends" as Uncle Kou's farewell dinner. Li Di, a political adviser, was very angry. He publicly announced that he and Ding Wei in the Song Dynasty were not * * * and even beat Ding Wei in the Song Dynasty with a hand board. Li Jue wrote to the Emperor, denouncing Ding Wei's treachery and appealing to Kouxian for grievances.

After Uncle Kou was deposed again, Ding Wei of Song Dynasty became prime minister and demoted Uncle Kou again.

In the first year of Ganxing (1022), he left Daozhou with resentment and went to work in the southern coastal city of Leizhou. After he took office, he didn't even have a decent house, but local officials and people always praised Uncle Kou as a man and took the initiative to build a house and arrange apartments for him. When he was in office, except for a few government affairs, he mainly read and interpreted the classics, wrote in his spare time and made friends. Whenever the guests arrived, he greeted them with a smile, without the appearance of a powerful official.

When in Leizhou, guide local residents to learn Zhongzhou pronunciation; Teach agricultural technology, build water conservancy, open canals to divert water to irrigate fertile fields; Explain astronomy and geography to the masses and try to avoid evil spirits; At the same time, Zhenwutang was built to study literature and art and spread the culture of the Central Plains, which promoted the development of Leizhou civilization. In the first year of Tiansheng (1023), Uncle Kou was sick in Leizhou and was ill in bed. At this time, he wrote a poem entitled "Poems in Illness": "Many diseases will last for many years, and I can't please them. Books only read medical records, and guests only wait for medical monks. Ambition is like snow, mind is like ice. After the storm in the county, it was sleepless for blue light. "

In September of the first year of Tiansheng (1023), Uncle Kou died of illness on a bamboo couch in Leizhou, and his wife Song Zuoqi was buried in her hometown, and Renzong allowed her to play. However, due to the limited cost, the coffin was transported halfway and the money was used up, so it had to be buried in Gongxian County, Luoyang. In November of the second year of Ming Dow (1033), Song Renzong took revenge and buried him. Posthumous title was given "loyalty" by replying to Prince Kou Taifu and Lai Zhu.

In the first year of you (1049), Song Renzong asked Sun Jian, a bachelor of Hanlin, to write a monument of loyalty and righteousness to the Lord, and wrote the word "loyalty and righteousness" for the first inscription.